What is the difference between breast nodules and fibroids?

Breast nodules and breast fibroadenomas are inclusive. The former is a symptom. Both benign and malignant tumors will have breast nodules; while breast fibroadenomas only form the symptom of breast nodules. Generally, when we go to the hospital for a check-up, we first find out that we have breast nodules, and then further examination is needed to determine what the disease is. Below I will introduce the difference between the two in detail.

Introduction to Breast Nodules

Breast nodules are a symptom that is common in breast hyperplasia (which can form breast cysts) and breast tumor diseases, including benign breast tumors (such as breast fibroids, phyllodes tumors, etc.) and malignant breast tumors (breast cancer).

Introduction to Breast Fibroids

Breast fibroadenoma is a benign tumor composed of a mixture of glandular epithelium and fibrous tissue. It is common in young women and is related to an imbalance in sex hormone levels in the patient's body. This disease is also known as adenofibroma and adenoma, which is due to the different degrees of fibrous components and glandular epithelial hyperplasia that make up the tumor.

Causes

The cause of breast nodules is still unclear and is related to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Currently, the possible causes of breast nodule formation include endocrine hormone levels, gene mutations, and environmental influences.

Breast fibroids are mainly painless breast lumps, rarely accompanied by breast pain or nipple discharge. Lumps are often discovered accidentally, while bathing, or during a physical examination. Most lumps are single, but they can also be multiple, or they can be felt in both breasts simultaneously or successively. Most of them are round or oval, with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm, but there are also smaller or larger ones, and occasionally huge ones. The boundaries are clear, the edges are neat, the surface is smooth, elastic, there is no tenderness, the range of motion is large, and there is no adhesion to the skin.